Quick-fire gun with multiple barrels



I. I UCIANI'.

QUICK FIRE GUN WITH MULTIPLE BARRELS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7,1915.

Witnesses Fig. 5

Patented Dec. 28, 1.920.

8 SHEETS-,SHEET 2.

Fig. 6

Inventor Attorney,

I. LUCIANI.

QUICK FIRE GUN WITH MULTIPLE BARRELS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7,1915. l, Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I. LUCIANI. l QUICK FIRE GUN WITH MULTIPLE BARRELS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 7,1915.

Patented B60289192@ 8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Inventor J. LUCIANI.

QUICK FIRE GUN WITH MULTIPLE BARRELS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7,1915.

attorney Wi nessesz* 1. LUCIANI.

QUICK FIRE GUN WITH MULTIPLE BARRELS. APPLICATION FILE'D SEPT. 7,1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

v@@@QOQQQ @Q @QQQ *U-FL-QL i nu I M H I I un i E l I Attorney J. LUCIANI.

QUICK FIRE GUN WITH MULTIPLE BARRELS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7,1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

M WM ttorney.

J. LUCIANI.

QUICK FIRE GUN WITH MULTIPLE BARRELS. I

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 7| |915.

Patented Dec. 28,1920.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8- Inventor WL'tnesseS:-

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JACQUES LUGIANI, YOF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO WILLY J'. SOLMS, PARIS, FRANCE.

QUICK-FIRE GUN WITH MULTIPLE BARR/ELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Application led September '7, 1915. Serial No. 49,368.

T0 all whom t may concerny Be it known that I, JACQUES Luciani, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at 10() Rue dAmsterdam, Faris, France have invented a certain new and useful Quick- Fire Gun with Multiple Barrels, of which the following is a specification.

The Vpresent invention has for its object to provide a quick-'fire gun with multiple barrels. In this gun the barrels, which are of different lengths, are arranged in a plurality of 'rows or groups in any convenient manner. During the construction of the gun, the barrels are directed by means of an appropriate device termed a ballistic apparatus, in such a manner that their axes diverge to a greater or less extent and in different planes, in order to impart to the fire any desirable dispersion appropriate to the effect sought to be obtained. A suitable 'device renders it possible to iinmobilize the barrels in the selected position, in such a manner that the lire is exceedingly regular. The calibers of all the barrels may be equal or they may differ; the barrels may be brazed at their base, united 'by a hoop, screwed into a block or, generally speaking,

they Vmay be united and assembled in any appropriate manner. Each barrel may be provided with a separate striker or the same striker may serve for all the barrels. Or there may be a series cf strikers for each row of barrels and each series may he controlled independently of the others or simultaneously therewith.

The accompanying drawings show, by way of example, a constructional form of this gun and some detail modifications;

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing rthe gun as a whole;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. i isa plan, to a larger scale, representing the details of the sliding cover inclosing the mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line A--A of Fig. t;

Fig. 6 is a detail view, to a larger scale, of the mechanism controlling the 'aiming for elevation;

7 is a longitudinal vertical section BLE in Fig. 8;?

Fig. 7a is a vertical section on the line B-B in Fig. 7, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan representing the Vrear of the gun and showing the mechanism the cover having been removed;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section on the line O O in Fig. 8, showing details of the cockinv mechanism;

Fig. 10 shows details of the trigger;

Figs. 1-1 and 12 represent a loading plate, in front elevation and in section on the line .lj-D in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 shows the details of a striker;

Fig. 14 shows the details of an ejector, in section;

Fig. 15 is a plan view showing the assemblage of barrels with the ballistic apparatus in place for adjusting the said barrels;

Fig. 16 is a section to a larger scale at right angles to the barrels, on the line E E in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a plan view of the extremity of the'barrels with the-ballistic apparatus in place, the cover of this apparatus being removed;

lFig. 18 is a vertical longitudinal section of the extremity of the barrels with the ballistic apparatus in place;

Fig. 19 is a detail view showing a portion of the barrels and the device for locking or immobilizing them;

Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic view, in elevation, of the cooking mechanism, showing the position of these parts when the gun is uncocked; y

Figs. 21, 22 and 23 are similar views showing the position/of the parts (1) when the gun is cocked and 'ready for firing; (2) immediately after firing; (3) in an intermediate position, when, after firing, the mechanism being returned to the rear by 'the displacement of the lever, the loading plate that has just acted falls and is replaced by a fresh plate filled with live cartridges;

F inally, Fig. 24 shows diagrammatically the. arrangement of the strikers when the three tiers ofstrikers are independently conztrolled.

In the embodiment of the inventionihere illustrated, the barrels 1 of the gun are, as shown more particularly ,in Figs. 1 and 3, distributed in three horizontal tiers each comprising eleven barrels; in this case therefore, the gun comprises thirty-three barrels; it will of course be understood that this number can be varied and that the gun may comprise a number of barrels quite different from that shown in the drawings. Similarly, the barrels may be differently distributed; for example, instead of being superposed, they may be arranged quincunx fashion, or staggered. The number of barrels is determined more particularly by the results aimed at and the caliberl adopted.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the barrels are of dierent lengths in each tier, the longest being preferably arranged at the center. This difference of length plays a considerable part in the' precision of firing in preventing the projectiles from encountering each other in space.

In the method of construction illustrated, the barrels'l (see Fig. 7) are screwed at their base into a block 2 in which are bored, in line with the barrels, the chambers 3 for the reception of the cartridges. The block 2 slides in the cradle f1 under the influence of the recoil. The block is guided in its movement in a slideway formed in the cradle and in which is engaged a projection 5 of corresponding section formed on the lower face of the block. In the example illustrated, the fixed slideway and the projection are dovetail in shape; obviously any other lorm of slide permitting of the longitudinal displacement of the block and preventing its displacement in the verticaldirection might be adopted.

When the nest of barrels and the block 2 recoil in the cradle, the part 6 rigid with the block compresses the springs 7 serving as a brake. These springs return the block and the barrels into their initial position after firing. The tension of the springs 7 can be regulated by any appropriate means, for example by nuts 8 as shown in the drawings.

As already stated, the barrels are mounted in such a manner as to furnish a divergent lire. The divergence can be obtained in two ways;

1. By mounting the barrels, adjacent to the chambers, parallel with each other and separating them (by means of the ballistic apparatus) toward the muzzle until the desired divergence has been obtained;

2. By boring in the block 2 the holes intended for the reception of the barrels With the desired degree of divergence.

Ballistic appara-tus. The ballistic apparatus 9 (Fig. 15) is constituted by a steel frame 10 (Fig. 16); this frame, which is rectangular in form, serves as support for a series of vertical screws 11 and for a series of horizontal screws 12 which, as hereinafter explained, permit of insuring the individual adjustment of each barrel for aiming for elevation and for direction.

Referring to Fig. 16, barrel a of the upper tier, it will be noted that this barrel is furnished with a block 13 extending throughout its entire length as shown in Fig. 17. The rod of one of the screws 12 passes through the upper part of this block, the housing for this rod in the block has a diameter slightly greater' than that of the rod to permit of expansion; nevertheless the collars 111 provided upon the rod of the screw, outside its housing in the block clamp the block irmly in such a manner that from any displacement of the screw in the nut provided for it in the wall of the frame 10 a displacement of equal value of the barrel in a horizontal plane results. In proximity to the screw 12, the block 13 comprises another housing in which the rod of the vertical screw 11 is engaged, the portion of this rod thus housed in the base being smaller in diameter than the housing (again with the object of permitting play in expansion) and being comprised between two collars 15-15 (Fig. 18) which bear against the walls of the block in such a manner that a displacement of the barrel L in a vertical plane corresponds to each displacement of the screw 11 in the nut provided for it in the frame 10.

It will thus be noted that with the two screws 11 and 1.2 it is possible to displace the barrel a either in the vertical plane or in the horizontal plane, within the necessary limits. Consequently it is possible to adjust the position of all the barrels in each tier (eleven in the example illustrated) in such a manner as to obtain any desired dispersion of the group or sheaf of projectiles emitted by the gun.

It will be understood that the constructional details that have been set forth are given merely by way of example and it is obvious that, without departing from the spirit 01' the invention, other analogous devices might be adopted for acting upon the barrels in the horizontal and the vertical direction and thereby adjusting the gun in the course of its construction.

This essential adjustment having been effected during the construction of the gun, it is obviously important that it should be 115 rigorously maintained no matter what shocks the gun experiences both during transportation and in actual firing. This result is attained by means of the immobilizing or locking device which will now 120 be described.

Device for immobilie/ng the (Jeweler-In order to immobilize the barrels in the se lected position of adjustment, after the barrels have been fitted, tapped holes are 125 formed between two adjacent barrels to serve as nuts for fixing screws 16 (Fig. 19) these screws rigidly lock the barrels one to the other and prevent any subsequent displacement. Combined With these fixing 130 .nasa-360s screws 16 are frames 1T forming. securing bands. arranged at intervals alongythebarrelsgthese frames assist in attaining thedesired objectby preventing'any displacement of the screwsl 16 duringV firing and during` the transportationy of: the gun..

Although Fig, 1 shows the ballistic apparatus inV position on the barrels, iti willj be understood that. this apparatus does not remain permanently upon the gun but can beremoved. as soon as the adjustment is iinished and the barrels have been immobilized by means of the device illustrated in Fig. 19.

Fig. 19applies tothe case of square ban rels; obviously theV same devices would be applicable to round barrels.

The outer surface of the barrels may present appropriate flutings or projections serving to increase the outer surface and thereby assist in the cooling of the gun during firing. o

Loading, cooking cmd #Wl/ng mechanism.- 'lhe cartridges required for. loading the gun are arranged beforehand on loading devices of the kind represented in Figs. 11 andy 12. These devices consist of two plates 19 and 20 adapted to engage each other by sliding (see Fig. 12) and in which a number of holes corresponding with the number of barrels are bored. TheV holesV bored in the plate 20 present exactly the same diameter as the cartridge cases at their base; the holes in the plate 19, on the contrary, are of a smaller diameter which approximately corresponds with that of the primer. It will be readily understood that, in these conditions, the cartridges canv readily be passedl into the holes in the plateV 2() and that, by then causing the plate 19 to slide behind the plate 20 as shown in Fig. 12, the cartridges are very etficaciously held, the rim on the base being clamped between the two plates 19 and 20. It will also be noted that, in passing through the holes in the plate 19, the strikers can strike the primers of the cartridges 18 without impediment.

Behind the block of the barrels, the gun is continued by a breech forming a kind of box 21 in which the mechanism is inclosed. A hole 22 is formed in the bottom of the box 21 immediately behind the block of the barrels (see Fig. 7); as hereinafter explained, after firing.y the loaders carrying the spent cartridges fall through this hole 22. A` hole 23 of corresponding dimensions is formed upon the top of the breech.

The vacant space thus constituted behind the barrel block serves an important purpose in the operation of the gun. It is into this vacant space that the cartridges pass downward. during firing. This space also serves an important purpose as regards thecooling of the gun in facilitating the circulation of the air around the barrels.

The coeking; and firing mechanism is broadlyconstituted by a block: 241i movable in slideways in the longitudinali'y direction. 'llwo rods 25 are pivoted to this block, their naar ends being also pivoted to small cranksV which cause the block 24 to more forward or rearward.

In front of the block 24 is a plate 29 into which the strikers 30 are screwed; this plate is movable relatively tothe block 24. The displacements of the plate 29'are guided by the rods 31 passing through holes formed for this purpose in the block 24. Moreover, a central rod-32, fixed to the plate 29, passes through a hole in the block 24 and is prolonged behind this block by a part 33 ending in.a head 34 of a peculiar and characteristic form (see Fig. 9). 1n order to simplify the descr-iptionthe part 33 and its head. 34 will be termed the needle n Around the rods 31 are arranged springs 35, the tension of which can beadjusted by means of threaded plugs 37 screwed into the block 24 and at the same time serving as guides for the rods 31.

Around the rod 32 is arranged a spring 36 which plays an essential part as regards firing.

Behind the breech is arranged a part B8 forming aA kind of clamp between whose jaws the head 34 of the needle can engage. As shown in Fig. 9 the jaws of the part. 38 are of such a form that theyzcan retain. between them the part 34 (see Fig.. 9). The part 38 can be advanced or drawn back in the breech by mea-ns of the adjusting device constituted by the screw 39; an external milled head 4,() permits of readily displacing the part 58;V by means of this displacement the head 34 is immobilized sooner' or later against the shoulders 41 of the jaws 38. it follows that it .is possible in this manner to modify the tension impart-ed to the spring 36 when thcl strikers are cocked; by depressing the lever 28 right home. The tension of this spring 86 can also be adjusted by act-ing upon the threaded plug 37 which screws into the block 24. Simple means are thus provided for rendering the operation of the gun more or less easy.

A cam 42 is arranged between the jaws 38. In turning this cam by means of the lever 43 which serves as trigger, the jaws 38 are separated and the head 34 is consequently released.. ,Y

In front of the plate of the strikers is arranged a plate 44 termed the impact or shock plate in which holes are bored for the passage of the strikers 30.

A frame 45 forming a slideway is fixed upon the breech on the rear edge of the opening 23; the loaders filled with cartridges are arranged one above the other between these slideways.

Vhen the parts occupy the position illustrated in Figs. 7 and 20, the lower loader has descended and reached the position shown. In this position the loader rests upon the stop plate 46.

It will be understood that two or more pins are provided on the under face of the block 24 and that these respectively engage in parallel slots in the plate 46 so that thus the plate 46 in its forward and in its rearward movement lags behind the movement of the block 24. Thus the edge of the loading plate is supported by the forward edge of the plate 46 on the forward movement of the block 24 and the loading plate is only released as the cartridges enter the breech. Similarly the front of the plate 46 comes into a position forward of the front face of the breech block 44 immediately after the breech block 44 has passed rearwardly to a sufficient extent to permit of the loading plate carrying the discharged cartridges to fall through the space 22.

On each side of the striker plate are arranged claws forming extensions of the uprights of the loaders; these claws receive the loader plate, guide it into the chambers for firing, bring it rearward when firing has taken place and allow it to fall at the moment at which they receive the next following loader plate.

Between the rows of chambers and around the latter' are arranged the ejectors 47 constructed as shown in Fig. 14. Under the influence of the springs 47, the ejectors 47 press back the loader after firing and facilitate its rearward movement.

The block 44 is rendered integral with the block 24 by being secured to lateral eXtensions of the block 24 as illustrated in the horizontal section, Fig. 8.

Operation-The Vgun that has been described operates in the following manner Between the slideways 45 the gun is provided with loader plates illed with cartridges, one of these plates occupying the position shown in Figs. 7 and 20 and resting upon the stop plate 46. In order to lire, the lever 28 is pressed forward in such a manner as to cause it to occupy the position represented in Fig. 21. During this movement the block 24 advances, pressing in front of it the striker plate 29; at the same time the shock or impact plate 44 and the loader plate advance. Vhen the lever 28 is depressed right home, the loader plate occupies the position shown in Fig. 21, that is to say the cartridges have entered the chambers in the block 2.

The striker plate 29 participates in this movement only until the head 34 of the needle encounters the shoulders 41 of the jaws 38 (see Fig. 21): from this moment, the block 24 continuing to advance, the spring 36 is compressed, which results in cocking the strikers. It will readily be understood that from this moment it is only necessary to release the needle 33 in order simultaneously to release the plate 29 (and the strikers) thereby allowing the spring 36 to act. In extending. this spring (to whose action that of the two springs 35 is cumulative) vigorously presses the plate 29 with its strikers against the bases of the cartridges, thereby firing them. This result is obtained by acting upon theV trigger 43 which serves to separate the jaws under the influence of the cam 42. Fig. 22 shows the position of the parts at this moment; as

shown in this figure, the needle has escaped from the aws and the striker plate has moved away from the block 24, the extremity of the strikers being in contact with the bases of the cartridges.

In order to fire the next round it is only necessary to draw back the lever 28. During this movement the claws in which the loading plate is engaged laterally bring this plate rearward; when the whole reaches the position shown in Fig. 23, the plate carrying` the cartridges that have just been fired falls through the orifice 22, the stop plate 46 having been shifted to one side by striking the rear face of the block 2 (see Fig. 23). During the continuance of the rearward movement of the lever 28 a moment is reached at which the neXt following loading plate (see Fig. 23) ceases to be retained by the upper flange of the breech; it then falls between the slideways and occupies the position represented in Fig. 20. At the same time, it will be understood, the block 24 has returned to the position shown in Fig. 20, the needle has separated the jaws and has come between them as indicated in Figs. 20 and 23. The gunris now ready for firing again; in order to redire it is only necessary tobring the lever 28 right home to its forward position and act upon the trigger 43.

In the description given above it has been assumed that all the strikers 30 are mounted on a single plate 29and that consequently by acting upon theV trigger Ya number of shots equal to the number of barrels of which the gun is composed is lired simultaneously. lt will be understood that means can be provided which permit of firing only a portion of the cartridges. Thus, for example, the Strikers might be arranged in three rows or tiers Corresponding to the three rows of barrels. Fig. 24 shows this construction diagrammatically.

l'n this case there is a single block'24 and three striker carryingY plates (29', 29 29). To each of these plates corresponds a needle (34', 34, 34) engaging between jaws (38, 38, 38.). An independent cam and trigger corresponds-toy each of the jaws.

lith this arrangement, by acting upon the triggers one after the other, it is possible to fire each row of barrels in succession. It is also possible, by .acting upon all three triggers simultaneously, to lire all the shots simultaneously as with the arrangement previously described.

Aiming 'medmm'mm-At its lower part the gun cradle is continued by two lugs 49 bored for the passage of the shaft 50. The gun as a whole is able to turn about this shaft for aiming for elevation. This rotation is obtained by acting upon the handwheel 5l keyed upon a shaft 52 at the other extremity of which is arranged an endless screw 53 meshing with a toothed sector 54 keyed upon the shaft 50. The shaft 52 is mounted at the side of the breech (see Fig. 3) and turns in the bearings 55.

lt will be readily understood that, as the sector 54 is fixed, by rotating the handwheel 51 the endless screw 53 is caused to roll around the sector and that this causes the rotation of the whole around the fixed shaft 50. In this manner the gun is aimed for elevation. A divided sector 56 moves in front of a hand 57 so that the angle of elevation obtained can be determined with precision. A fixing screw operated by means of a handwheel 58 serves to lock the gun in the position selected.

For aiming for direction the gun pivots around a vertical trunnion upon which the shaft 50 is fixed; this trunnion turns inside the foot 59 and is brought to rest in the selected position by means of a set screw operated bythe handwheel 60.

The base 6l of the trunnion turns upon a part of corresponding form constituting the upper portion of the foot 59; upon the outer surface of this upper part are marked divisions over which moves an index 62 fixed to the base 61. A spherical air bubble level 63 is arranged upon the sliding cover 64 (Figs. 4 and 5) in which is' formed a window 65 for the passage of the trigger 48. ln combination with the index 62, this level 63 serves to insure both the horizontality of the gun in the transverse direction and the precise adjustment for direction in accordance with the ring instructions. Two per pendicular lines intersecting at the center are engraved on this level and also a certain number of equidistant concentric circles.

In firing operations, several of these guns are arranged parallel one with the other at appropriate distances. yThe guns being thus arranged equidistant from and parallel one with the 'other-divergent streams of projectilesfare obtained; rthese streams or jets impinge upon eachother at a distance from themuzzles which `depends on the one hand upon the-'adjustment `adopted for the 5divergence-ofthe barrels and on the otherhand upon the interval "adopted in the field be-y during the movement aforesaid and displaceable to permit the carrier to fall through the passage when the cartridges have been fired, and means for shifting the impact plate forwardly and rearwardly to produce continuity of firing of the gun.

2. A quick-fire gun of the .class described comprising a plurality of barrels, a breech portion to which the barrels are connected and having a vertical passage therethrough, guide means disposed at said passage to receive a cartridge carrier, an impact plate arranged to move along the breech and to shift the loaded carrier forwardly until the .carridges thereof are introduced into the barrels, means arranged to support the carrier during the movement aforesaid and displaceable to permit the carrier to fall throughthe passage when the cartridges have been fired, strikers arranged in rear of the impact plate in position to impinge each of the cartridges mounted in the carrier, means for shifting the impact plate and strikers forwardly and rearwardly of the breech, and means for cooking said strikers as an incident `to the movement of the last mentioned means.

3. A quick fire gun of the class described, comprising a plurality of barrels, a breach portion to which the barrels are connected, a sliding block carrying the firing pins, a sliding breech block adapted to carry the loading plate, means operated by a single lever to effect the rectilinear movement of the said breech block, sliding block and firing pins, means for holding and releasing the firing pins, and a loading plate formed of two plates, in one of which plates holes are formed for the reception of the cartridge cases, the other plate sliding over the first and serving to hold the rims or edges of the cartridge .cases at the base, substantially as described.

4L. A quick fire gun of the class described, comprising a plurality of barrels, a breech portion to Which the barrels are connected, a sliding block earryin the firing pins, a sliding;r breech block a apted to carry the loading plate, means operated by a single lever to eect the rectilinear movement of the said breech block, sliding block and firing pins, und a cocking device constituted of a needle shaped part engaging t'wo jaws with v10 Which the said needle shaped part engaged until the momnt of firing, substantially as described.

JACQUES LUCIANI. 

